Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has cautioned individuals unfamiliar with the workings of the Senate to refrain from making uninformed public commentary on legislative matters. Akpabio issued this warning late Friday night while receiving a delegation from the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum, which paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja. His remarks come in response to criticism surrounding the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for violating Senate rules. Akpoti-Uduaghan was on Thursday suspended for six months by the Senate over alleged misconduct and breach of relevant standing orders. She however said the suspension which…

The ongoing terrorism case against leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been reassigned to another judge. The reassignment was directed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, John Tsoho, after months of intense pressure. The special counsel to Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Justice Binta Nyako had been presiding over the trial of the IPOB leader. However, during the court’s hearing on 24 September 2024, Kanu requested that Nyako recuse herself from presiding over the matter, accusing the judge of bias. The statement read “Yesterday, before…

President Bola Tinubu has extolled the virtue of women as the world celebrates this year’s  International Women’s Day. In a statement signed by him on Saturday, he praised the resilience, brilliance, and indispensable contributions of Nigerian women, describing them as the “strength” that powers the country. He said his administration is committed to actualising the Renewed Hope agenda. “You are the bedrock of our nation, driving progress from our homes to our farms, boardrooms, and communities. Yet, 30 years after the Beijing Declaration, too many still face barriers that limit their potential. “Our administration is committed in our Renewed Hope…

French superstar Kylian Mbappe’s “ups and downs” are to be expected because of Real Madrid’s demanding season and the nature of players of his quality, said coach Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday. The striker performed poorly against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and previous La Liga match against Real Betis, just days after scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City. Mbappe struggled in his first few months at Madrid after joining last summer from Paris Saint-Germain before bursting into form, but his last couple of appearances have caused concern among fans. “What we saw is that against Atletico he did not…

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday named a new finance minister to help steer Latin America’s second-largest economy through challenges including the threat of sweeping US tariffs. Edgar Amador, previously a deputy finance minister, will replace Rogelio Ramirez de la O, whom Sheinbaum appointed as her economic advisor for international affairs. Ramirez de la O, who was named to the post in June 2021, has been given “a very special task” given the importance of Mexico’s relations with the United States, Sheinbaum said in a video posted on social media. The change comes as Mexico seeks to calm investor concerns…

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has informed all federal workers of ongoing salary deductions following salary overpayments in December 2024 due to a system error. In a Friday statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, the OAGF explained that overpayments are currently being recovered through deductions from affected workers’ salaries. The OAGF said there were no shortfalls in salaries paid to federal workers in January and February 2025, adding that the amounts received during this period reflected normal salaries after the exhaustion of various arrears paid in the last quarter of…

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects for kidnapping. A statement by The Command’s spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the development. According to him, the arrest of the suspected kidnappers is a testament to the effectiveness of the strategies deployed by CP Betty Isokpan in combating crime in the state. While assuring residents of improved safety, he appreciated them for cooperating with the police, and soliciting more useful information. The statement read “On 05/02/2025 at about 0945hrs, upon receipt of credible information that suspected kidnappers were sighted somewhere at Ugonoba village in Uhunmwode LGA. “The…

The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Resources Authority (NMDPRA) has issued refining licenses to three companies to build new refineries in Abia, Delta, and Edo States. According to an X post by the NMDPRA on its official page, the proposed refineries that have been issued licenses are a 100,000 bpd refining license to Eghudu Refinery Ltd in Edo state, MB Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Ltd license to establish a 30,000 bpd refinery in Delta State, and a 10,000 bpd refinery issued to HIS Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. in Abia. Upon completion, the three proposed refineries will have a combined…

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from detention Saturday, AFP reporters saw, walking out of the detention centre smiling before bowing deeply in front of waiting supporters. His supporters cheered as the suspended president walked past, an AFP reporter saw, before getting into a convoy of vehicles. “I bow my head in gratitude to the people of this nation,” Yoon said in a statement released through his lawyers. AFP

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has explained that there were no shortfalls in salaries paid to federal workers in January and February 2025. The OAGF said the salaries that workers received in January and February 2025 were their normal salaries after the various arrears that were paid from October to December 2024 were exhausted. The OAGF said it was imperative to make clarifications on the purported shortfall in January and February 2025 salaries in order to ease any anxiety in the minds of workers. According to the OAGF, “Various salary arrears were paid in the last…